Part 13/18:

The Scientific Measurements that Matter Most

The discussion emphasizes several key climate indicators:

• Earth’s Energy Imbalance: The most insightful metric, indicating how much extra heat the planet retains. Recent data show the imbalance has quadrupled since twenty years ago, signaling worsening conditions.

• Global Temperature Trends: While illustrative, temperature alone can be affected by aerosols and pollution, complicating direct interpretation.

• Ice Melt and Sea Level Rise: Accelerating ice loss in glaciers and the Arctic, often surpassing model predictions, signifies rapidly advancing impacts.